The drive for state efficiency has swept the nation in the wake of the federal Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to streamline operations and cut costs. While many states have either begun or already launched their own versions of DOGE to reform the government, they are divided between those that are directly inspired by the department and those that are independent programs.
Florida, for instance, has created a direct variation of the federal reform group, establishing its own DOGE task force by executive order Feb. 24, 2025. The group will work to trim state operations, outlining a series of goals to achieve over the next year. Plans include abolishing 70 boards and commissions, reviewing higher education institutions to identify and cut wasteful spending, auditing local governments to determine bloat, returning unused and surplus money to the state and leveraging AI to advance efforts to cut spending and eliminate bureaucracy.
Iowa has followed suit with its own DOGE initiative, targeting methods to shrink government at all levels. The state plans to integrate and utilize innovation as part of its efforts, including AI, automation and advanced technology to improve government efficiency and reduce costs.
New Hampshire’s Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) recently met for the first time, prioritizing options for interagency collaboration and identifying cost-saving measures. As with other DOGE-centric task forces, COGE will work toward developing recommendations to streamline government while cutting costs. Consolidating technology and enhancing permitting processes are among the commission’s leading reform efforts.
Texas has also created its own DOGE committee to leverage AI and other emerging technologies to modernize existing processes while driving innovation and cost reduction methodologies. As part of its establishment, the committee will prioritize ways to address government service inefficiency, review regulations and oversee cybersecurity, AI and other relevant technologies.
While states continue to establish virtually identical versions of DOGE to help enhance operations, others are passing initiatives that, while similar, are independent efficiency efforts rather than direct offshoots of their federal counterpart. Maryland created its own Government Efficiency Commission in July 2024, designed to streamline permitting and licensing processes to improve efficiency and remove roadblocks preventing individuals and businesses from procuring approvals. A report was filed with the state in December 2024. Additional states, including New York, Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana have established similar entities.
As the fervor of government efficiency presses onward, an increasing number of states will establish their own reform departments. States including North Dakota, Georgia and Hawaii have introduced legislation to create their own commissions, and other potential commissions introduced to those states have already failed in those states’ legislatures.
(Photo courtesy of Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash.)
